The Keto DietWhat is it?

What is a keto diet? Here's how it works: Patients follow a meal plan that's 60-75% fat, 15-30% protein, and 5-10% carbs, which sends their body into a state called ketosis. When they hit this state, their body breaks fat into organic compounds called ketones, which it then uses for energy. And since their bod doesn't have its first choice for energy—carbs—it kinda-sorta thinks it's starving.

The History of the Keto Diet

Fasting and other dietary regimens have been used to treat epilepsy since at least 500 BC. To mimic the metabolism of fasting, the ketogenic diet (KD) was introduced by modern physicians as a treatment for epilepsy in the 1920s.

For two decades this therapy was widely used, but with the modern era of antiepileptic drug treatment its use declined dramatically. By the end of the twentieth century this therapy was available in only a small number of children's hospitals.

Over the past 15 years, there has been an explosion in the use, and scientific interest in the KD. This review traces the history of one of the most effective treatments for childhood epilepsy. (source)

People have had outstanding results and it is believed to be the next greatest health discovery.

9 Proven Benefits of the Keto Diet

The ketogenic lifestyle is here -- it’s one of the most searched terms on the internet today!

It’s not just because people are searching for it that gives it merit; it can actually create remarkable, beneficial changes in the body that dramatically improve your well being.

The ketogenic lifestyle isn’t only for helping with weight loss goals. It can also provide increased energy, performance and help your body overcome certain health conditions, from moderate to severe.

A ketogenic lifestyle drastically lowers inflammation due to the reduced amount of free radical production that occurs when burning ketones for energy instead of glucose. This allows for more energy production and a more efficiently functioning body, as well as a heightened ability for the body to heal.

2. Improved Fat Burning

By definition, being in a state of ketosis means you’re burning fat for energy. If you have excess body fat, you’ll be able to burn it at a much more efficient rate.

3. Mental Clarity & Sharpness

Neurological inflammation is insidious and has been linked with depression, anxiety and poor cognitive function. A reduction in inflammation due to a ketogenic lifestyle can be helpful for neurological disorders and generally improve mental performance.

4. Abundant Energy

Increased amounts of energy from a ketogenic lifestyle is due to less inflammation, upregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, more ATP per molecule of ketone and more stable blood sugar.

5. Clearer Skin

Skin conditions like eczema, acne and psoriasis are often rooted in chronic inflammation or autoimmunity. While other factors should also be addressed, following a ketogenic lifestyle can also help to quickly lower inflammation and accelerate healing.

6. Reduced Cravings

Getting into a state of ketosis balances blood sugar, provides the brain with stable energy and completely eliminates cravings. In fact, people in a ketognic lifestyle often say they barely think about food between meals.

7. Mitochondrial Biogenesis

Most of us have been using sugar for energy our entire lives, this is what our mitochondria are comfortable with. During the transition phase, old and weak mitochondria die off to stimulate the growth of new and stronger mitochondria for more energy production, in many cases.

8. Anti-Aging

Because mitochondria have such a profound impact on energy production, inflammation levels and gene expression (and therefore overall function of the body), promoting mitochondrial health can be of great benefit when it comes to anti-aging.

9. Reduced Risk of Chronic Disease

A ketogenic lifestyle may protect your body against a wide array of disease processes. The combination of anti-inflammatory effects along with improve mitochondrial function simply allows the body to heal and mitigate disease processes more effectively.